WARWICKSHIRE County Cricket Club has admitted it may be forced to change some aspects of a controversial £32 million makeover of its Edgbaston ground to placate neighbours.

Chief executive Colin Povey said he was looking at “sensible modifications” to cut traffic chaos during big matches and to reduce the intensity of the scheme.

He was speaking after Birmingham City Council planners refused to approve proposals for new stands to increase capacity by 4,000, floodlights, improved media and hospitality facilities and 250 flats and houses, hotels, shops and offices on adjoining land.

Planning committee members deferred a decision on Wednesday after being told about a storm of protest from groups and councillors.

Mr Povey and the club’s architects will meet senior council planning officials next week in an attempt to negotiate a way forward.

Mr Povey described the objectors as a “small, vocal minority who clearly don’t want this in their back garden”, but said he could understand the concerns of people who lived very close to the ground.

He said the club had already accepted “onerous conditions” imposed by the council, restricting the number of times floodlights could be used during a year.